USA > Indiana > Hendricks County > History of Hendricks County, Indiana > Part 53
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and J. W. Brown; Deacons, William A. McAninch, Jr., and William Page; Clerk, W. A. Shoptaugh.
The Methodist Episcopal Church has been organized at least forty years. Services were held for many years in the school- house, and in 1850 they built their present church, at a cost of $1,600. It will seat about 200. Among the early members were Isaac Smart, William Cline, John Clark, John Richardson, James. Borders, Joseph Bishop, Edward Jackson, Elisha McAninch and their wives. The ministers have been, in order, James Williams, Joseph Woods, J. F. Woodruff, Elias Gaskin,-Bridges, Miles Woods, W. W. Pewett, William Ginnis, Asa Beck and J. V. R. Miller. The last named, the present pastor, commenced his labors here in the fall of 1884. The present membership of the society is about fifty.
SOCIETIES.
Larabee Lodge, No. 131, F. & A. M., was organized in May, 1852, and has now thirty-one members. The present officers are : James Pratt, W. M .; William Applebee, S. W .; John S. Ellmore, J. W .; A. Heavenridge, Sec .; William Page, Treas .; James Tincher, S. D .; William Ellmore, J. D .; W. A. McAninch, Tyler. The lodge meets the Monday evening on or preceding the full moon of each month.
Enoch Alexander Post, No. 265, G. A. R., was mustered in the fall of 1883 with thirteen members. The membership has now increased to forty-seven. The present officials are: J. B. Garri- son, Com .; L. S. Rector, S. V. C .; O. P. Bowen, J. V. C .; Alfred Benbow, Adj .; F. M. Osborne, O. D .; 1William Houston, Q. M .; A. N. Crawford, Chap .; Smith G. York, O. G.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
John Wesley Brown, section 26, Franklin Township, is a son of Amiel and Susannah Brown. He was born Sept. 26, 1836, on the farm where he now resides. He was married Sept. 26, 1859, to Sarah J. Smart, daughter of Isaac Smart, who came from Ohio .
to this township in 1851, at present living in Cass County, Mo. To them were born two children-Virgil died at the age of six months and Effie died at the age of two years. Mrs. Brown died Jan. 21, 1862, aged twenty-one years, and Mr. Brown married for his second wife Mrs. M. W. Critchfield, widow of J. G. Critchfield. She was born in Bourbon County, Ky., a daughter of Robert and
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Eliza Turner. They have two children-Ora A, and Jessie W. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are consistent members of the Christian church. Mr. Brown has served acceptably as Township Trustee, and has been prominently identified with all enterprises for the good of his township. In politics he is a staunch Republican. Amiel Brown, father of our subject, was born Sept. 10, 1810, in Guil- ford County, N. C., and in 1826 his parents, James and Rebecca Brown, moved to Wayne County, Ind., from thence to Morgan County, and subsequently settled in Iowa, where they died. Amiel Brown was married in 1832 to Susannah Burris, a native of High- land County, Ohio, and a daughter of John Burris. They reared seven children-Mrs. Louisa Jane Crawford, died at Stilesville, May 22, 1884; John W., our subject; Mrs. Elizabeth A. Swope, a resident of Stilesville; Mrs. Mary F. Dunnington, deceased; Verlin G., living in Kansas; Mrs. Carrie E. Hollingsworth, deceased, and Laura P., residing at Stilesville. After his marriage Mr. Brown settled in Liberty Township, and in 1835 moved to Clay Township. He came to this township in 1844, settling on a farin on section 26, which contains 160 acres of excellent land and is now owned and occupied by our subject. Amiel Brown died at the old home- stead April 13, 1869. His wife died Aug. 2, 1883, in her seventy- fourth year. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Bary M. Gentry, of the firm of Gentry Brothers, general mer- chants, Stilesville, Ind., is a representative of one of the pioneer families of Hendricks County. His father, Blaxton Gentry, was born in Culpeper, Va., June 1, 1766, and was reared in Culpeper and Lee counties .. He was twice married. His first wife was a Miss Brush, who died in Virginia. He afterward moved with his children to Kentucky, where he was married in September, 1816, to Nancy Hough, a native of New Jersey, who moved with her parents to Kentucky when a child. In the autumn of 1832 Mr. Gentry came from Kentucky to Hendricks County, Ind., with a four-horse team. His family at that time consisted of eight chil- dren, the eldest of whom, Garland, the only child by his first mar- riage, was married and brought his wife and child. They located in what is now Frankliu Township, Mr. Gentry buying 155 acres of land. They cleared and cultivated a farm where they reared their family, and where the father died April 9, 1845, and the mother May 23, 1853. They are buried on the homestead on land selected for that purpose by the father. Mr. Gentry was prom-
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inently identified with the early history of Franklin Township. Politically he was in early life a Jackson Democrat, but in 1840 voted for General Harrison. He was a member of the Cumber- land Presbyterian church. Seven children were born to this sec- ond marriage-Melvin A., Eliza J., Bary M., John W., Sarah Ann (deceased), Jeremiah and Hezekiah. Bary M. Gentry was born in Kentucky, Jan. 16, 1821. After attaining manhood he engaged in agricultural pursuits till 1871, and still owns a fine farm in Adams Township, Morgan County. He has accumulated a fine property by industry and frugality, being in limited circumstances when he started in life. In March, 1871, he became associated with his brother Hezekiah and established the general mercantile busi- ness in Stilesville, where they have built up a good trade which is constantly increasing. Mr. Gentry married Elizabeth J. Ludlow, a native of Kentucky, daughter of Nathaniel Ludlow. They have had a family of ten children, six of whom are living-Melvina A., Nancy J., Joanna, Harrison, Candace and John W. Mr. Gentry's brother Hezekiah was born in Kentucky, Aug. 16, 1830. He mar- ried Mary A. Wilcox, a native of Hendricks County, born Dec. 29, 1834. They have one daughter-Sarah A., born March 19, 1854, now the wife of James M. Tincher.
Jonathan N. Green, M. D., Stilesville, Ind., was born in Guil- ford County, N. C., Aug. 23, 1825, a son of John and Charity (Swaim) Green. In 1835 his parents moved to Hendricks County, Ind., and settled on a farm near Plainfield. In 1837 they bought a farm in Center Township, where the father died in 1840. The mother survived her husband several years. They had a family of eight children, four of whom are living-Leno W., of Center Township; Martha, wife of John Lamb; Martin I .. , a Methodist minister, at West Lebanon, and Jonathan N. Dr. Green began the study of medicine in 1846 with Drs. Henry G. and David Todd, of Danville, and remained with them three years. He then located in Stilesville and began the practice of his profession. In the win- ter of 1857-'58 he attended lectures at Rush Medical College, Chi- cago, Ill., and graduated in the spring of the latter year. He has built up a large practice, having won the confidence and esteem of all who know him. He was married to Eva V. Pope, a native of Liberty Township, born in 1838, a daughter of James N. Pope, a pioneer of Hendricks County.
John A. Grimes, a resident of section 10, Franklin Township, was born Aug. 17, 1824, in North Carolina. His parents, John and
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Mary Grimes, were born, reared and married in that State and emi- grated to this county in 1833, locating in this township. They brought four children with them-Elias, Elihu, William and John, of whom the latter is the only one now residing in this county. The father died here in 1855, his widow surviving him till 1868. John A. Grimes was married Oct. 17, 1849, to Rebecca Morgan, a native of Tennessee, whose parents settled in Hamilton County, Ind., where they died. Mr. and Mrs. Grimes have seven children -Oliver Morton, Charles F., Rozilla E., Hannah D., Ellsworth, Francis M. and Rhoda L., all living at home. Mr. Grimes is in comfortable circumstances, owning a fine farm of 137 acres. Politi- cally he is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Reg- ular Baptist church.
Jehu Hadley is one of the most prominent farmers of Hendricks County. His farm is one of the best in the county, and none have required more labor to change from a state of nature to that of high productiveness. March 4, 1838, Mr. Hadley bought 320 acres of land on section 11, Franklin Township, at that time a swamp adjacent to Mill Creek, which flowed through it, a sluggish stream. The part of his purchase which was arable was covered with a heavy growth of timber. Old settlers pronounced the estate value- less and predicted starvation to the owner, but to-day it is the model farin of the county. This change has been wrought by incessant toil and perseverance. Two thousand rods of tile drainage, 400 rods of open ditch, one mile of levee on the banks of Mill Creek, indicate the character of the improvements. Every acre of the land is improved. The fine park and amphitheatre was built for the use of the old settlers, who have held their annual re-unions there for thirteen years, with an average attendance of 6,000 per- sons. Mr. Hadley at one time owned 650 acres, nearly all of which he improved. Probably no other man in Hendricks County has cleared and improved as much land as he. Part of this he has sold and part he has deeded to his children till his farm is now reduced to 200 acres. His beautiful brick residence, built in 1876, is a model of convenience and comfort, and cost, with surrounding out-buildings, over $10,000. No man in Hendricks County is more widely known, and certainly no one is more highly respected for the many qualities that combine to make a true manhood than Jehu Hadley. In deal he is more than just, he is generous. Hon orable himself, he never distrusts a man till he has proved him. Liberal and charitable, he never refuses aid to a worthy man or 38
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object, and for forty years the needy have known that in him they had a friend who never turned any empty-handed away. Strong in his likes and dislikes, he loves his friends but eschews his ene- mies. Mr. Hadley was born in Chatham County, N. C., Oct. 19, 1810, and in 1825 accompanied his parents, James T. and Mary (Richardson) Hadley, to Hendricks County and located in Center Township. He was married Ang. 3, 1837, to Jerusha Stiles, a . native of Vermont, born July 19, 1819, daughter of Jeremiah and Sibyl Stiles. Her father was the founder of Stilesville, locating there in 1821. Mrs. Stiles died in January, 1828, and was the first married woman who died in that place. Mr. Stiles subsequently married again. He died of cholera, at Savannah, Mo. But three of his children are living-Mrs. Hadley, Mrs. Sibyl Whicker, and Lewis (son of the second marriage). One son, Luke, a physician, of Chicago, Ill., died in 1884. To Mr. and Mrs. Hadley have been born ten children-Mrs. Nancy Daggy, of Danville; Mrs. Mary Gibben, of Butler, Mo .; Henry, of Eel River Township; Sibyl, deceased, wife of William Wilson; George Washington and Marcus Lafayette, enlisted in the war of the Rebellion and died in the serv- ice; Mrs. Alice Matlock, of California; Mrs. Laura Masten, of this township; John and Jerusha (twins), at home. Mr. Hadley is a member of the Christian and Mrs. Hadley of the Missionary Bap- tist church.
Thomas Harrison, deceased, was born in North Carolina in 1800, and removed with his parents to Kentucky, where he mar- ried Nancy Bryan, a native of East Tennessee, born Nov. 28, 1807. In the fall of 1832 they moved to Hendricks County, Ind., and settled on section 19, Franklin Township, where Mr. Harrison died Nov. 11, 1846. Mrs. Harrison still lives on the homestead, which contains 160 acres of valuable land. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison had a family of six children, three of whom are living-Mrs. Mar- tha Walls, John and Mrs. Emeline Swinler. James died at the age of fifteen years, Nathan aged seventeen years and William aged forty years. The latter was married and left a widow and four children-Iva, Oscar, Ada and Wilmie. Mrs. William Har- rison, whose maiden name was Eliza Bartholomew, daughter of Benjamin and Sabrina (Johnson) Bartholomew, lives on the home- stead with Mrs. Harrison.
A. Heavenridge, M. D., Stilesville, Ind., was born in Union County, Ind., May 22, 1829. His father, William Heavenridge, born 1791, was a native of Louisiana, and when fifteen years of
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age moved with his' parents to Tennessee, and thence to Union County, Ind. He subsequently located in Henry County, and from there moved to Putnam County, and thence to that part of Morgan County which is now a part of Hendricks. He afterward moved to Wabash County, where he died Feb. 17, 1864. His wife died April 16, 1862. Our subject was reared on a farm, and March 1, 1853, began the study of medicine with Dr. Moody, of Stilesville, remaining with him two years. He attended two courses of lect- . ures at Rush Medical College, Chicago, Ill., in the winters of 1854-'5 and 1857-'8, graduating in the spring of the latter year. He then located in Stilesville and, with the exception of three. years spent in Putnam County, has since resided here. He is a close student of his profession and has built up a large practice. He was married to Sarah Mckenzie, a native of Virginia, who removed with her parents to Kentucky, where her father died, and in 1844 she accompanied her mother to Putnam County, Ind., removing to Hendricks County in 1849. To Dr. and Mrs. Heav- enridge have been born three children, but two of whom are living -Eugenia and Frank M. Gertrude died in childhood.
Melville F. McHaffie, section 29, Mill Creek Township, Putnam Co., Ind., is so prominently identified with the material and social interests of Hendricks County that its history could not be consid- ered complete without mention of him. He was born in Knox County, Tenn., Dec. 27, 1826, a son of Andrew E. and Nancy (Woods) McHaffie. His mother died when he was three years of age leaving three children-Nancy E., widow of William P. Rob- erts; Melville F. and Thurza Jane, who died aged twelve years. In October, 1832, his father settled in Franklin Township, Hen- dricks County, three-fourths of a mile from Stilesville, living a short time in a tent. He bought 640 acres of Government land, coming to this county with some money compared to the majority of the early settlers. He improved his farm rapidly and soon had a good home. He married a second time, in August, 1838, in Blount County, Tenn., Nancy D. Kilburn. One child was born to them, Mary Angeline, now a resident of Stilesville. Andrew McHaffie was one of the prominent, enterprising citizens of Hendricks County, noted for his honorable dealings and benevolence. He died Oct. 17, 1863, aged sixty-five years and six months. His widow died in Arkansas in 1881. His father, John McHaffie, served nearly six years in the war of the Revolution, and was pres- ent at the surrender of Cornwallis, and for his gallantry won a
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Captain's commission. He died in Tennessee, about thirty years after the close of the war, aged fifty-two years. He had moved to that State in 1801. His widow survived him many years and died at the residence of A. E. McHaffie, in Franklin Township. Mel- ville F. McHaffie remained with his father till twenty-four years of age. He was married Aug. 15, 1850, to Mary Ann Thomas, a native of West Philadelphia, born July 16, 1830, daughter of Jon- athan Thomas, who moved to Ohio, and died in Preble County. The mother subsequently married Theodore Long, and with him moved to Mill Creek Township, Putnam Co., Ind., where they . both died March 4, 1851. Mr. McHaffie moved to a cabin on section 29, near their present residence. He at that time owned no land, his cabin being on his father's land. He has been very successful in all his business operations, and is now one of the largest land owners of Indiana. His home farm contains 1,000 acres, situated on sections 28 and 29, Mill Creek Township, and sections 20 and 21, Franklin Township, Hendricks County. His residence was built in 1872, at a cost of $10,000. He also owns nearly all of section 27, 160 acres of section 22 and eighty acres of section 8, Franklin Township. In 1858 he bought 1,153 acres of land, part of it improved, in Bates County, Mo. The latter he has sold at a profit of $10,000. Mr. and Mrs. McHaffie have had ten children, six of whom are living-Florence Alice, wife of Charles W. Bridges, of Indianapolis; George W., of Franklin Township; Inez B., wife of Dr. G. N. Masters, of Stilesville; Oscar S., Mel- ville E. and Mary E., at home. Clarine Virginia married Thomas S. Boggess, of Macon, Miss., and died after fourteen months of married life. Andrew E. died aged seventeen years; Clarence V .. aged two years, and Marcus, aged three and a half years. In poli- tics Mr. McHaffie is a Democrat.
Jonathan L. Newman is one of the most prominent and success- ful farmers of Franklin Township, and a representative of one of the first families to settle in Hendricks County. His father, John Newman, was born in Guilford County, N. C., of Irish descent. He was reared in his native county, and there married Elizabeth Lacy, also a native of North Carolina, of English descent. In 1834 he came to Hendricks County, Ind., and entered 480 acres of land on section 18, Franklin Township. He soon after returned to North Carolina, but in 1836 came again to Indiana and built a log cabin on the southeast quarter of the section. This cabin is still standing and is one of the oldest residences in Hendricks County.
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In May, 1838, he moved his family to their frontier home, where he lived till his death in November, 1855, aged seventy-one years. He was a man of good education for the times. His opportunities for receiving instruction were limited, but he was fond of reading and thus acquired a fair knowledge of the literary and business world. He began life in meager circumstances, but accumulated a competency by his good management and practical business abil- ity. In politics he was an Abolitionist. His wife survived him but eleven months, dying in October, 1856. Their family con- sisted of three children, two of whom, Jonathan L. and Mrs. Rachel Phillips, are living. Miriam is deceased. Jonathan L. Newman was born in Randolph County, N. C., in 1820, and was about eighteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to Hendricks County. He assisted his father in clearing and im- proving the farm, and succeeded him in its ownership. He has been successful in his pursuits and now owns 675 acres of valuable land. He married Maria C. Phillips, daughter of Eli Phillips. To them have been born four daughters-Harriet, wife of William G. Robinson ; Mary E., wife of Frank Johnson ; Martha E., at home, and Julia, wife of Harrison Shields. In politics Mr. Newman is a Democrat.
Dr. John A. Osborne, druggist, Stilesville, Ind., is a representa- tive of one of the pioneer families of Hendricks County, a son of Hardin and Priscilla (Tincher) Osborne. Hardin Osborne was born in Rockcastle County, Ky., in 1804. His father, Nicholas Osborne, was a native of Virginia, and when a young man moved to Kentucky, where he married Susanna Roberts, and in 1824, moved with his family to Hendricks County, Ind., and located in Clay Township, entering the land now owned by Isaac Ratliff. Seren or eight years later he moved to Liberty Township where he died at the age of eighty-seven years. Hardin was the eldest of a large family. He was married near the present village of Amo, in August, 1829. Four or five years later he settled in Clay Township, where. he died March 8, 1863. His widow is still liv- ing and makes her home with her children. They had a family of eleven children, eight sons and three daughters, nine of whom are living. Five sons served in the war of the Rebellion. Thomas J. was a member of the Ninety-ninth Indiana Infantry, and died at La Grange, Tenn., in January, 1863., Nicholas served three years, a member of the Seventieth Indiana Infantry. He was wounded in the left arm, and has never recovered from its effects.
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Silas enlisted in October, 1861, in the Fifty-first Indiana Infantry, and was killed in 1863, while with Colonel A. D. Streight on his raid through Georgia. William B. was a member of the same company and was captured while on the raid and imprisoned sev- eral months. He re-enlisted and served about five years. James H. served three years in the Seventieth Indiana Infantry. The other surviving children are-Mrs. Nancy Jave Bercham, of Lin- coln, Neb .; Melinda, wife of William M. Reitzel; John A., George W., Henry C., and Mrs. Sudie Harrison, of Vigo County, Tenn. Dr. John A. Osborne was born in Liberty Township, Hendricks . Co., Ind., May 6, 1841. When twenty-two years of age he began the study of medicine at Belleville, with Drs. Moore & Kennedy, and in 1864 attended lectures at Rush Medical College, Chicago, Ill. He graduated from the Indiana Medical College, Indianapolis, in 1871. He practiced two years in Clinton County, Ind., and then returned to Hendricks County, where he has since lived. In 1878 he was elected Recorder of Hendricks County and served four years. His health became impaired and he was unable to practice, and after the expiration of his term of office engaged in farming till Feb. 18, 1885, when he located in Stilesville, and became estab- lished in the drug business. He was married to Harriet W. Kay, a native of Ohio. They have three children-Maud, Inez and Harry.
David Reitzel was born in Guilford County, N. C., Nov. 21, 1806, a son of Henry and Catherine Reitzel, also natives of North Caro- lina, of German descent. He was reared in his native county and was there married April 1, 1830, to Deborah Marshall, a native of the same county. In 1831 he and his wife and infant son started for Indiana, the objective point being Parke County, but as that county was considered unhealthy located in Hendricks County. They were accompanied by Joshua Pickett, who also settled in Franklin Township. Mr. Reitzel entered 160 acres of land on sec- tion 7. No improvements had been made and he has made his present fine farm by his own industry and energy. He has added to his first entry till he now owns 300 acres, all well improved. He is one of the most substantial farmers of the county, having acquired a competency for his declining years. His wife died Aug. 6, 1849. They had a family of ten children-William M., Hannah C., Sarah C., Lucinda J., Martha Ann, Matild H., Mar- tin L., John H., Eli F., Aaron R. Seven of these are now living. Hannah, wife of William McCormack, died Feb. 24, 1873; Martha
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David Reitzel
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A., wife of Oliver Saudess, died in 1862, and Eli F. died aged five years. March 7, 1850, Mr. Reitzel married Susan Lietzman, a na- tive of Wythe County, Va., born Jan. 30, 1827. Two children were born to them-Saloma E. and David A. Mrs. Reitzel is a daughter of Charles and Mary Ann Lietzman, who settled in Dan- ville in 1830. The father, a native of Germany, and a tanner by trade, died in 1840, and the mother died in 1871. Mrs. Reitzel is the only daughter living in a family of eight children, three of whom are dead-Catharine, Jane and James, the last named dying in infancy. Those living are-John, Theodore, Charles and Will- iam. Politically Mr. Reitzel was formerly a Whig, but has affilia- ted with the Republican party since its organization.
James Snoddy, one of the prominent pioneers of Hendricks County, was born in Bourbon County, Ky., Jan. 4, 1999, a son of John and Mary Snoddy, his father a native of North Carolina, and his mother of Vermont. In 1823 his parents moved to Owen County, Ind., where they died. Our subject was reared and edu- cated in his native county. He was married in 1819 to Rachel Everman, a native of Ohio, born Nov. 18, 1803. Her mother died when she was a child, and her father subsequently moved to Kentucky, and later to Owen County, Ind., where he died. In 1820 our subject settled in Monroe County, Ind., and in 1830 came to Hendricks County and located on section 30, Franklin Town- ship, entering a tract of 120 acres of wild land, where he lived till after the death of his wife, when he sold his farm and has made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Stringer. Mrs. Snoddy died Oct. 1, 1877. She was from girlhood a member of the Christian church. Mr. Snoddy is a member of the same denomination. In politics he votes the Republican ticket. Of his seven children, but one, Mrs. Mary E. Stringer, is living. The deceased are-John, Nancy, Moses W., Julian, Martha J. and James W.
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